Depression Drug Treatment

Antidepressants are not happy pills and do not work like panacea. They are prescription-only medicines that come with benefits, as well as risks, and should be taken only under a doctor's supervision.

However, they are one treatment option if you suffer from clinical depression. Following a depression drug treatment is not a sign of weakness and research has shown that in most cases they do work.

When Is a Depression Drug Treatment the Right Option?

Whether a depression drug treatment is the best choice for you depends on many factors, such as your age, your personal preferences and how severe the depression is.

While antidepressants can be beneficial for adults, a psychological treatment is usually preferred for children and teenagers. A combination of therapy and medication works best for many patients.

Many psychiatrists believe for adults who suffer from severe depression, a depression drug treatment is the best option. For mild or moderate depression, psychotherapy might be enough. However, even in these situations, short term medication treatment or herbal therapy can help patients get to the point where they are able to engage in therapy.

Which Depression Drug Should You Choose?

There are many different kinds of depression drugs, which also work differently. The most common ones are the Prozac family of drugs or the selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Older medication includes the tricyclic antidepressants and the monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The newest medicines are serotonin and noradrenaline reputake inhibitors (SNRIs). There are also herbal medicines. Among the most popular ones is St John's Wort or Hypericum. 

Some of the older medications are cheaper and have the same effectiveness level as new ones. SSRIs  are now very popular especially because they are not so dangerous when taken in overdose.

It is difficult to say which medication will make the best choice and have the fewest side effects for anyone. When prescribing a depression drug, a psychiatrist usually tries to match the patient's particular depression symptoms with the side effects of the medication. For example, if someone sleeps too much, it is not a good idea to take a medicine that can cause drowsiness.

For most antidepressants, the first effects are noticed after at least a couple of weeks. When you change treatments, a two-week break is sometimes necessary between finishing one medication and starting another.

For some medicines, it is best not to stop the treatment suddenly, but reduce the dose gradually, in order to decrease possible side effects.

What Are the Risks?

In addition to common side effects, such as drowsiness or changes in eating and sleeping patterns, some patients have reported extreme reactions to antidepressants, including a tendency to commit suicide. Research studies have revealed there is a greater risk for people in the first days of depression drug treatment to commit suicide than for those who have taken the medication for a few months.

Patients taking antidepressants should be monitored by a doctor. Friends and family members can also help by watching out for warning signs, especially during the first days or weeks of treatment.

It is believed teenagers are particularly prone to have such extreme responses to antidepressants. This is why they are not recommended for young people.

Another major risk, especially if there is a combination of two antidepressants, is the serotonin syndrome, which includes symptoms such as agitation, confusion, shivering, fever, sweating or diarrhea.

People who suffer from manic depression are usually prescribed antidepressants during the depressive episodes, but these should be taken with high precaution, as they can induce mania.